This research was carried out for the purposes of a final thesis for obtaining a Master’s degree in History. The most important question was whether the norms with regard to expressing emotions on the death of a close relative had changed during the last few centuries, and if so, how this could be explained. A distinction was made between the explicit norms such as could be found in books of etiquette and correspondence manuals, the public forms of emotional expression such as found in obituary cards, mourning circulars, messages of gratitude and funeral songs, and finally the influence of these standards and norms on an individual’s private life in as far as this could be reconstructed by means of autobiographical texts. Research was also carried out into the extent to which the differences in personal variables such as age, gender, family circumstances and religious convictions could be seen to affect the quantity, intensity and type of emotional expression (expressions of praise, grief, comfort, or references to the emotional relationship with the deceased). Although personal variables appeared to have some effect, the links established by the research were generally weak, possibly as a result of discrepancies in the collection of data. It did, however, become clear that the emotional codes for surviving relatives changed substantially from the eighteenth century onwards, under the influence of long-term developments such as the civilisation process, increasing rationalisation, secularisation, privatisation and individualisation. These developments did not only result in the much-discussed and subsequently discredited 'taboo on death’, but also in a changed image of mankind and therefore in a changed emotional culture. In the eighteenth century, the image of mankind as the servant of God had a powerful influence on the emotional codes for surviving next of kin, who were supposed to resign themselves to the will of the Almighty without protest. In the early nineteenth century, on the other hand, there was a period in which the field was cleared for those romantic individuals who either could not suppress their grief, or were not expected to. This was gradually replaced later in the nineteenth century by the image of mankind as a civilised, rationally thinking and acting subject, who should remain unaffected by intense emotions or death, in order not to damage the image of reasonableness, control and propriety that was so widely cherished. Since the 1960s, this subject is also expected to be able to express his identity and feelings in an authentic and personal manner, an ideal that proves impossible to many. Publications: '"Want ware zielesmart is niet woordenrijk". Veranderende gevoelscodes voor nabestaanden 1750-1988', in: Albert van der Zeijden (ed.), Cultuurgeschiedenis van de dood, Amsterdam 1990, p.84-114. Summary. The article is available as Pdf. 'In Memoriamteksten op bidprentjes. Een verkennend onderzoek naar de relatie met de gevoelens van de nabestaanden', in: Jaarboek van het Katholieke Documentatiecentrum Nijmegen 20 (1990), p.11-35. Also published in: Archief voor de Geschiedenis van de Katholieke Kerk in Nederland 33 (1991), p.11-35. Summary. The article is available as Pdf.